Fluid-dispensing apparatus



May 13, 1930. P. s. ALLEN ET AL FLUID DISPENSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-sheet l Filed oct. 2, 1928 Ill/lll )lill/11111111111: full,

May 13,* 1-930. P, s, ALLEN ET AL FLUID DISPENSENG APPARATUS l Filed 061;.2. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 iff/wmf May 13, 1930. Pfs. ALLEN l-:T AL

FLUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 2, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet C5 frm/5% Patented May 13, 1930 5 UNITED STAT-Esv PATENT ,OFFICE y :PHILIP s. ALLEN AND DANIEL N. ALEXANDER, or AvALoN', CALIFORNIA FLUID-DISTEN SING APPARATUS Application mea october 2, 192s. serial No. 309,822.

Broadly, our invention relates to apparatus for dispensing fluids, and specifically to apparatus for dispensing beverages at soda fountains.

' It is a. purpose of our invention to provide a fluid dispensing apparatus which is characterized' by its ability to control dispensing of `a plurality of liquids of different characters from different sources of supply through a single nozzle, and by the employment of a single valve. v

It is also a purpose of our invention to provide a fluid dispensing apparatus which is particularly adapted for use at soda fountains to dispense from a'single nozzle any one of a plurality of flavoring syrups or other forms of beverages, and to also dispense from the same nozzle carbonated water under high or .low pressure, or both, successively at the option of the dispenser, preceding or following dispensing of the flavoring syrup or other beverage.

A further purpose of our invention consists in providing in a fluid dispensing apparatus a valve operable to dispense the carbonated water following that of the syrup, and in a manner to cause the carbonated water to traverse and thus flush those parts of the valve traversed by the syrup, whereby mixing of one syrup with another within the valve and the resultant adulteration of any one syrup as finally dispensed from the nozzle is prevented.

We will describeonly one form of fluid dispensing apparatus embodying our invention and will then p'oint out the novel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a view showing in side elevation one form of fluid dispensing apparatus employing our invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are sectional views taken on the lines 3-3, 4-4, and 5 -5, respectively, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view partly in vscction, showing the component parts of the valve embodied in the apparatus shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the valve casingillustrating the manner in which the tubes from the i supply are connected to the valve casing;

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are plan views of-the `titi valve and operating mechanism' illustratingthree positions of the adjustment thereof, the valve being shown in part section taken aproximately on the line 8 8 of Fig.` 4,; an i Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the valve in another position of adjustment.

Similar reference'characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views. 6 5

In carrying out our invention, we provide an apparatus which consists, although notessentially, of a plurality of sources of liquid supply., indicated at S in Fig. 1, connected by tubes T to a valve V, the latter being opei'able 70 by a mechanism O to control the selective discharge of liquids from the sources through a sin le nozzle N.

s illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a plurality of tanks constitute the sources of liquid supply, each tank being designed to contain a liquid of a character different from that of the liquids contained in the other tanks. In the adaptation of our invention tosoda fountains, the tanks may contain different flavoring Syrups, with the exception of one tank 15, illustrated in Fig. 2, which is adapted to contain carbonated water. Each tank is provided with one tube T for conducting its respective liquid to the valve V. However, the tank 15 is provided with two branch tubes 16, and 17 (Fig. 7 in order that the valve V may be operated to dispense from the nozzle .N carbonated water at substantially the same pressure as exists at the source or at a much less pressure. y

The construction of the valveV is best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6, and it is shown as comprising a casing consisting of two parts 18 and 19 screw-threaded one on the other to 95 permit ready connecting and disconnecting thereof, and when connected providing a housing for the stationary and movable parts of the valve. As shown in Fig. 2, the several tubes T are extended through a circular vsources of liquid series of openings in the casing section 18 where they are connected by soldering or, in any other suitable manner to What We term a stationary element 20 of the valve. This element is formed of metal or any other suitable material and is provided with a circular series of inlet ports 21 in which the adjacent ends of the several tubes T are seated. The opposite face of the stationary element 20 is a wear and sealing disk 22 of suitable material 'and is secured tolthe element by the provision of peripheral protuberances 23 circumferentially spaced, and peripheral flanges 24 on theelement 20 likewise circumferentially spaced to provide intervening notches in which the protuberances are seated. This arrangement of protuberances and flanges also provides a means for locking the disk 22 against circumferential movement on the element 20 so that a circular series of ports 25 in the disk are maintained in registration withy the ports 21 of the element 20. The disk 22 is centered on the element 2O by an annular liange 26 on the element 20 fitting within a central opening 27 of the disk.

The element 20 is sustained axially` within the casing by an extension 28 of a shaft`29, the extension rotating in an axial socket 30 of the element 20. The shaft 29 is provided with a head 31 by which amovable valve element 32 is secured to the shaft. This element 32 is in the formof a ,disk constructed of any suitable material such as a fiber composition, andas illustrated in Fig. 6 it is provided with a single port 33 situated to registed with any of the ports 25 of the disk 22 by rotation of the element 32 through the medium of the shaft 29. The shaft 29 is rotatable within a tubular shaft 34 journaled in the casing section 19 and provided at its inner end with a second movable valve element 35. This element 35 comprises a disk of metal formed integral with the shaft 34 and upon opposite sides of which are secured flat rings of leather or any other material which will resist wear and provide the requisite sealing property.

The element 35 is rovided with a single port 36 situated to register with the port 33 of the element 32 either by rotation of the element 32 through the shaft 29 or by rotation of the element 35 through the shaft 34. Surrounding the shaft 34 and fixedly secured within the casing section 19, so that one face is continguous the inner face of the casing section, is a second stationary valve element 37. This element 37 is of substantially disk form and'is constructed preferably of a fiberous composition. It is provided with a circular series of outlet ports 38 with any one of which the port 36 i's adapted to reglster by rotation of the element 35. i With the exception of one, all ports 38 communicate with a continuous groove 39 in that face ofthe element 37 contiguous to the casing section 19. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the groove 39 is proleather or other vided with an upwardly curved portion 39 i for the purpose of making the groove continuous and yet avoiding communication with the single aforementioned port, designated at 38a, in order that it may be distinguished from the other ports which communicate with the groove.

As illustrated in Figs. 2, 4, and 11, the casing section 19 is rovided with passages or ducts 40 vand 41,.t e passage 40 cat all times communicating With the "port 38, and the passage 41 at all times communicating with the groove 39. These passages in turn communicate with passages 42 and 43, respectively, of the nozzle N. The nozzle, N is of conventional construction and forms no part of the present invention except in its association with the valve V. As is Well understood by those skilled in the art, a fine jet of carbonated water, and under relatively high pressure, is discharged through the passage 42 while the water as discharged through the 'passage 43 is greatly reduced in pressure by reason of the several ducts constituting the passage.

By reference to Fig. 6, it will be manifest that the several elements comprising the valve V `can be readily assembled and .disassembled, and when assembled the extensions28 of the shaft 29 serves to center the element 20 in the valve casing. To take up wear of the parts of the valve and to thus prevent leakage of liquid between the several elements, the shafts 29 and 34 are movable longitudinally within the casing,.and the element 20 can be adjusted to exert any required pressure upon the elements 32, 35, and 37, to revent leakage between the parts by the provision of a screw7 44 (Fig. 2) threaded in the casing section 18 and having its inner end engaging the element 20 so that by inward adjustment of the screw the element can be pressed forwardly against the element 32, and such pressure in turn transmitted to the elements 35 and 37 to take up all wear and secure a liquid tight seal between the elements. It will be understood that in adjusting theelement 20, as just described, the tubes T are freely movable through the casing section 18 in order to allow for such adjustment. j

The operating means O of the .valve V includes the shafts 29 and 34, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this mechanism comprises, in

addition, an arm 45 keyed to the outer end of the tubular shaft 34 and receiving thereon a shaft 46, the upper end of which is enlarged and knurled to-provide a handle 47. The shaft 46 is tubular in part to receive the arm 45, and such tubular part is slotted as indicated at 48 to receive the head of a screw 49 eX- tended into the arm 45, the two co-operating to secure the shaft 46 against displacement from the arm 45 and yet permitting of a limited rotational Vmovement of the shaft on the arm. Through the medium of sectional gears shaft 46 may be imparted to the shaft 29 without produclng any rotary movement of the shaft 34. However, movementl of the shaft 46 bodily, and with the arm 45 about the shaft 29 as a center, is transmitted to the shaft 29 through the gears 50 and 51, as it will be understood that during such movement of thev shaft 46 the gears move together, thereby transmitting such motion to the shaft 29 and causingl it to turn-with the shaft 34.

From th1s operation it will be manifest that bodily movement of the shaft 46 causes a corresponding movement of thevalve elements 32 and 35, while rotation of the shaft 46 on the arm 45 produces movement only of the valve element 32. lMovement of the valve elements 32 and 35 together is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, and in these views it will be vnoted that in the normal position of the valve the port 33 is out of registration with the port 36, and is in what may be termed a laggino* position with respect to the movement of 'the port 36 by the element 35.. The respective positions of the two ports are maintalned during movement ofthe elements 32'and 35 from the normal position in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 9, and in which latter position the port 36 is brought into registration with any selected port 38 of the element 37. Itis also longitudinally aligned with the corresponding port 21 of the element 20, but it remains out of communication with this v port by reason of the interposed disk 32.

Now, by rotating the shaft 29 independently of the shaft 34, the valve element 32 is rotated to bring its port 33 into registration with the port 36 and the aligned port 21, thus providing a continuous passage from the corresponding tube T to the groove 39 of the element 37. To rotate the shaft 46, it is provided with an arm 52, and by reference to Figs. 9 and 10, it will be clear that to move the valve element 32 to the position shown in Fig. 10 the arm 52 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 9 to that shown in Fig. 10.

From the preceding operation it should be clear that the valve V can be manually operated toplace any one of the tubes T in com- V munication with the groove 39, that is, with the exception of the branch tube. 16 which is designed to communicate only with the outlet port 38a. However, by operating the valve in the manner described the ports 33 and 36 can be moved into a position in which they effect communication between the inlet port 2l for the branch tube 16 and the outlet port 38a.

The operation' of the fluid dispensing apparatus is as follows: a

Let it be assumed thatjthe tanks S each contain a syrup of a different flavor, with the eX- ception of the tank 15 whichcontains carbonated water.' When dispensing a syrup of the' selected flavor the valve V is manually actuated through the operating mechanism to first position the valve element so that lts port 36 Will'align with that inlet port 2l which corresponds to the tube T for the respectlve tank S containing the particular syrup desired to be dispensed. This selective movement of the Ivalve is ineffective to discharge syru from the nozzle N but such discharge ise ected, and only from the tank selected,lby actuation of the operating mechanism to bring theport 33 into registration with the port 36 and the'inlet port 21 when syrup will flow from the corresponding tube T to the groove 39 and through the latter into S0 the passage 41 whence it is discharged from the nozzle through the passage 43. Thus the valve can be o erated with perfect freedom to select and ispense any particular syrup and Without fear of any of the other Syrups bein discharged from the nozzle.

A ter the vdesired amount of a particular syru has been dispensed `from the nozzle N it w1 l of course be understood that further discharge of the syrup may be checked by returning the arm 52 to the normal position shown. in Fig. 9 in which the valve element 32 is moved so that its port 33 is no longerin registration With the port 36. 5

In the making of a glass of soda it is cuse.

tomary to first dispense a syrup followed by the addition of the required amount of carbonated Water. In dispensing a carbonated water it is customary to partly fill the glass with water of 'a low pressure, and then to produce the desired effervescence and effect proper intermixng of the syrup and water, carbonated water of a high pressure is added. This manner of mixing and completing the soda may be effected by. our apparatus through further manipulation of the valve V in the following manner: The valve elements 32 and 35 are first `moved to the position i1- lustrated ,in Fig. 11 in which their ports are in registration with that port 21 communicating with the branch tube 17 and with the corresponding outlet port 38. Thus,` the branch tube 17 is placed in communication with the passage 41 of the valve casing so' as to allow discharge of carbonated water from the tank 15 to the passage 43 of the nozzle N. Asthe passage 43 is made up of a plurality of ducts, it will be manifest that the pressure of the water as finally discharged from the nozzle is greatly reduced. The path astraversed through the valve by the carbonated water is in the main the same as that traversed by any one of the Syrups, and, consequently, the carbonated water being under greater pressure and of a lower viscosity naturally acts as a liushing fluid to clear the ports and passages of the valve and nozzle of any syrup that may have remained therein. Thus, the valve is cleaned of all syrup so that when dispensing another syrup its it will not be adultcrated by the preceding syrup dispensed.

'After the required quantity of low pressure carbonated waterhas been discharged from i, the nozzle l, carbonated water at a high presi sure may be dischargei'l by moving the parts of the valve to the position shown in Fig. 2. in which the branch tube 16 is incommunication with the outlet port 38 and thus in direct communication with the passage 42 through the passage 40. Carbonated water discharged in this manner is not reduced 1n pressure but is discharged fiom the nozzle N 1n a. ine jet to produce the desired intermixing- 5 and effervescence.

It is important to note that in dispensing the carbonated water at high pressure thewater does not enter the groove 39 of the valve element 37 but passes from the port 38 directly to the passage 42 of the nozzle. As a consequence, there is no ypossibility of the water losing its pressure during transit. 4

Although we have herein shown and described only one form of fiuid dispensing ap- ,fparatus embodying our invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A fiuid dispensing apparatus comprising a valve having a stationary element provided with a plurality of inlet ports each adapted for communication with a source of liuid supply under pressure, a second stationary element having a plurality of outlet ports and a groove placing allof the outlet ports in communication with each other except one, a movable element between the stationary elements havin@ a port adapted to establish communication-between any two corresponding ports ofY the stationary elements, a second movable element between the first stationary and movable elements having a port normal- ,f ly at one side of the port in the first movable and means for actuating the movable elements in such manner that the port of the first movable element is firstp'laced in registering position with any selected corresponding ports i of the stationary elements and then the-port of the second movable element is brought into registry with the port of the first movable element.

2. A fluid dispensing apparatus as embodied in claim 1 wherein said means comprises a tubular shaft ixed 'to the iirst movable element, an arm fixed on the shaft, a second shaft within the first shaft and fixed to the second movable element, a third shaft movable on the arm, and a connection between the third and second shafts by which the second shaft is rotated with the first b movement of the arm, and the second s aft rotated independently of the first shaft by movement of the third shaft on the arm.

3'. A valve having a casing, a stationary element having a plurality of inlet ports each adapted for communication with a source of iuid supply, a second stationary element having a plurality of outlet ports corresponding in position to the inlet ports of the first stationary element, a discharge passage in the casing communicating with all of the outlet ports, and means movable first to select any inlet port and then place the corresponding outlet port in communication therewith. i 4. A valve having a plurality of inlet ports each adapted for communication with a different source of syrup supply under pressure except one port that is adapted for communication with a source of carbonated water, a plurality of outlet ports communicating with each other, and complemental to the inlet ports, and means normally actin to maintain the inlet and outlet ports out o communication with each other but operable to place complemental inlet and outlet ports in communication with each other to dispense any particular syrup and to then dispense carbonated water, the carbonated water outlet port being in communication with all of the syrup outlet ports to flush all of the latter ports by the carbonated water as it is dispensed.

5. A valve as embodied in claim 4 wherein an additional inlet port and complemental outlet port are provided, the inlet port having communication with the said source of carbonated water and the outlet port being out of communication with the outlet ports, normally out of communication with the inlet port, and adapted to be placed in communication with the inlet port by said means.

6. In combination, a plurality of sources of liquid of substantially one character, a source of liquid of another character under pressure, a discharge nozzle having two discharge passages, and a valve having means for discharging any selected liquid ofthe first character from the nozzle through one passage, means for discharging liquid of the other character through the said passage of the nozzle and in a manner to flush those parts of the valve traversed by the liquids of the first character,

and means for discharging liquid of the second character through the other passage of the nozzle, the first nozzle passage having a plurality of ducts to dissipate the pressure of the liquid of the second character before iinal discharge and the second nozzle passage serving to discharge the liquid of the second character at full ressure.

7. In combinatlon, a plurality of sources of liquid of substantially one character a source of li uid of another characterun er pressure, a ischarge nozzle having two discharge passages, and a valve having means for dischargin any selected liquid ofthe first character om the nozzle through one passage, means for discharging liquid of the other character through the said passage of the nozzle, and means for dischargin liquid of the second character through the ot er passage of the nozzle, the first nozzle passage having a plurality of ducts to dissipate the pressure of the liquid ofthe second character be-l fore final discharge and the second nozzle passage serving to discharge the liquid of the ment.

second character at full pressure.

8. A valve comprising a stationary element having inlet ports, and a second stationary element having outlet ports, a pair of rotatable elements between the stationary elements and having ports one rotatable element having a tubular shaft and the other a shaft with.A in the tubular shaft, a casing housin all of the elements and providing a mounting for said shafts in which the latter are rotatable and movable longitudinally therein to allow movement of the movable elements carried thereby toward and'away from the second stationary element,A the first stationary element being mounted on the second shaft to permit said element to be moved toward and to thus exert a pressure against the movable lelements and the second stationary element for taking up wear between the elements and preventing leakage of fluid therebetween, and means for moving the first stationary element.

9. A valve as embodied in claim 8 wherein said means comprises a screw mounted in the casing and engaging the-first stationary ele- PHiLIP s. ALLEN. DANIEL N. ALEXANDER. 

